Electroplating apparatus



DEC. 28, 1948. V G VAN ORNUM 2,457,510

'I ELECTRPLATING APPARATUS Filed Jan/25, 194e y 2 sheen-sheet 1 Dec. 28,1948. D. G. VAN ORNUM i ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1946v 2Sheets-Sheet 2 lll vel/lor Patented Dec. 28, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS Delbert G. .Van Ornum, Great Falls,Mont.

Application January 23, 1946, Serial No. .642,921

4 Claims. (Cl. 204-224) The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in electroplating apparatus and more particularly to amachine for accurately building up to exact dimensions various types ofmetal surfaces, such as shafts, internal or external cylinder walls, orflat surfaces by means of an electrode mounted for movement over thework and maintained in slightly spaced relation from the work While anelectroplating solution bridges the space between the work and theelectrode.

An important object of the invention is to provide a yieldable mountingfor the electrode embodying spring means for holding the electrode inclosely spaced relation with respect to the work and an electric switchoperable to open a circuit connected to the electrode upon a building-upof the surface of the work to a predetermined thickness through amovement ofA the electrode by the building action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter adapted for operation while immersed in the electroplatingsolution, or in which the solution may be applied to the contacting endof the electrode and conned between the electrode and the surface of thework during the electroplating action.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character ofsimple and practical construction, which is eifcient and reliable inoperation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise welladapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the switch with the cover plate forthe switch housing removed.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the contactingend of the electrode.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged bottom plan View of the rear end of theelectrode with the cover plate for the electrode housing removed.

Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View through the switchhousing.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the contacting end ofthe electrode showing an applicator attached thereto for theelectroplating solution, and

Figures is a perspective view of the switchoperating arm. y

Referring now to the drawings in detail and first with respect to theform of invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive the numeral 5designates an elongated substantially flat housing of insulationmaterial having its bottom surface formed with a longitudinallyextending channel or groove 6 open at one end of thehousing and havingan electrode in the form of a bar 'I slidably` mounted therein.

l The electrode 'I is projected forwardly at the frontend of the housing5 by means of a coil spring -8 positioned against the rear end `oftheelectrode at thechannel 6, the spring forming a conductor between theelectrode and a terminal 9 extending outwardly through the top of thehousing- 5 and designed to be connectedin an electric circuit in amanner and for a purpose presently clear.

The front outer end of the electrode 'l is bifurcated as shown at I0 andin which is rotatably mounted an/insulation non-conducting disk- II bymeans of a pin or rivet I2 and also rotatably mounted on the pin I2 atone side of the disk II is a disk I3 of conductive material and of adiameter less than the disk I I as shown to advantage in Figure 3 of thedrawings.

One edge of the electrode 'I is formed with rack teeth I4 engaging apinion I5 secured to the lower end of a shaft I6 journaled in thehousing 5 and projecting upwardly therefrom into a liquidtight switchhousing I7 secured on top of the housing'E. An arm I8 is positioned inthe switch housing and secured to the upper end of the shaft I6 forswinging the arm in one direction in accordance with a predeterminedinward sliding movement of the electrode 1.

The arm I8 is of non-conductive material and engages one side of aAresilient switch arm I9 `of conductive material which has one endanchored in a split post 2B of nom-conductive material rising in thehousing` Il. The free end of the switch arm I9 is provided with abreaker point 2l adapted for movement into and out of engagement with :astationary breaker point 22, the switch arm vand the breaker point 22having circuit wires 23 and 24 -connected thereto and extendingoutwardly through adjacent ends of the housing II for a purposepresently seen. The switch housing I I is closed by a liquid-tight coverplate 25. The housing is designed to be partly immersed, that is, to thehousing I'I, in an electroplating solution 3 with the insulation disk II positioned to travel against the surface of work also immersed in thesolution and the housing 5 and electrode 'I are de-j signed to be movedin a xed path to travel along the surface of the work, by xing thehousing 5 in a lathe, or the like, not shown. The insulation disk I I isheld against the surface of the work by the spring 8 which projects theelectrode 'I outwardly of the housing 5 therebyrreleasine the switch.arm Iza to close the breaker points 2l and 22.

The electrode 'I is designed to be interposed in a suitable electriccircuit, a diagrammatic representation of which has been shown inFig-ure 1' with a battery I3 representing the source oi electricalenergy and grounded as at 32 with -a line 33v to one side 34 0f aspring` opened solenoidac:

switch 35 remote from the device and outside of the solution, lsaid line33 having a control switch 3E therein. The other side 37 of said switch35 is connected by a line 38A to the terminal'of the electrode l. Thewire 23 branches from the line 33 and the wire 24 extends to one sideaofthe solenoid 33 of said Iswitch 35 :and which is ground-` -ed-asat 461to` be energized when the breaker `points ZI, 22 are closed and therebt7operate the core dI to close said switch 35.

lThe dev-ice i-s moved, as bythe means previousM vl'ymentioned, overthe-work, as shown'for instance at 29,- to be eleotroplated and theelectrode l is Ynormally' extended outwardly of the housing y5 vby thespring 8 so that thebreaker points 2l, 22

are closed. Therefore, with the switch 35 closed,

the solenoid 39 will vbe energized to maintain the `s-olenoidao switch35 closed and the electrode `I vwillbe energized. As they surface ofthev work- 29, over which the. disks Il `and I3 travel, is built up,thev electrode 'If w-ill be' shoved inwardly *of the housing' 5 until apredetermined thickness of electroplati-ng isattained, whereupon, theIarm Ils will be actuated by the raoliz'y I4 and. pinion I5 to move theswitch arm I 9 to separate the breakerl points alg, 2.2, whereupon, thesolenoidv 39 willk be deener- 'goed to permit the soienoidac Switch at`to open and thereby deenergiie the electrode 1:, in a mannen-whiohwill be clear.

As will be understood, when the brealierwpoints 2.1i, 22 are closed, orengagf'ed,I and the solenoidac Aswitch 35 closed', electric current willflow through the electrode 'l1 and solution, not shown, wherer by theWork 23:, as shown, will be electroplatedaccording to the usual Wellknown process, and when the. electrode. 'l is deenergized, in the mannerdescribed in the foregoing, the` electroplating processwill be stopped.1

In Figure 7', I' have illustrated a modiiied form of lthe inventionwhich comprises a tube 26. secured to the outer end of the electrodey1a, by a bracket 21. and attached' to. the-discharge end of the tube isa wick 2B positioned. beneath the tube and wiping against the work 29)immediately above the conductor disk I3 a and non-conductive disk I I',the tube beingy adapted to supply electro.- plating solution tothe wickfor action thereon bfy the electrode to electroplate the` surface V0fthe work.

vIn view of the foregoing descriptionL taken in conjunction withy theaccompanying drawings it is believed; that a clear understanding-of the`Coni.-

structiOn, operation and advantages of the. device will be' kquiteapparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description isaccordinglydeemed unnecessary;

It is to. be understood, however, thatA even thoughr there. is hereinshown and: described. .a

preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certainchanges fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as hereindescribed andthe scope of th-e appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is Y ing slidably mounted insaid housing for retractiontherein;workeengaging means of insulationmaterial secured to and extending beyond said electrode'for causingretraction of the electrode l i; intosaid housing as the thickness ofthe electroplating on the work increases, a switch carried b'y saidvhousing for controlling an electric circuit in which the electrode isinterposed, and means for opening said switch operative by retractionVof said electrode in a predetermined degree.,

2. Anfelectroplating device comprising a housing .of non-conductivematerial and adapted to be moved in a iixed path over a piece of worklto be electroplated,r an electrode projecting out vof said housing totraveltherewith with one end in close proximity to the work, saidelectrode being slidably mounted in .said housing for retractiontherein, work-engaging means of insulation material secured to andextending beyond saidk electrode for-causing retraction oftheelectrodeinto said housing as the thickness of the eiectroplating on thework increases, a switch carried by said housing for controlling anelectrio circuit in .which the electrode isr interposed,

means for opening said switch operative by rem traction of saidelectrode ina predetermined de- V,cg-roda terminal on said housingadapted to. be

interposed in said circuit',l and spring means for opposing retraction`of said electrode and forming an electrical lconductor between saidelectrode and terminal.

3.` -An electroplating device comprising a housing of nonconductive`material and adapted to be moved in a fixed path over a piece of work tobe electroplated, anelectrode, projecting out of said housing to. travel`therewith with one endv in, close. proximity to the work,rsaid-electrode being: sldably, mounted in saidv housingk for retraction,therein,- work-engaging means of, insulationv material secured to andextending beyond f said electrode for causing retraction4 of" theelectrede into. said housingas the thickness of the vto beelectroplated, anhelectrode projectingv out of` said' housing to travel'therewith with one end in close proximity to the work, said Aelectrodebe'- ing',K slidalolyA mounted` in said housing for retraco tionltherein, 'work-engaging means Y of insulation material secured sto andlextending beyond said electrode vfor causing retraction of the electrodeinto said housing;V as the thickness of the electroplating on theworkincreases', a switch carried 5 6 in which the electrode is interposed,means for opening said switch operative by retraction of REFERENCESCITED said electrode in a predetermined degreey and The followingreferences are of record in the means on said electrode for supplyingelectrole of this patenti plating Solution between Said electrode andthe 5 work.

DELBERT G. VAN ORNUM. Number Name Date 1,805,215 Hammond May 12, 19311,856,409 Bryce May 3, 1932 10 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date18,643 Great Britain 1899

